Scan barcode
garrettdowney's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
kmkasiner's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't sure how to rate this. I loved the first half. The worldbuilding was fascinating and I liked the group of friends that formed.
I lost interest considerably once the battles actually started. (I know, war is in the title, and I usually wouldn't have picked this up, but it was a recommendation.) I ended up skimming some parts that were just pages and pages of strategy and fighting play-by-play. If Scalzi was intending to riff on Heinlein, he definitely succeeded in that, with the battles and the ingenue main character.
Overall, the characters ultimately could have used more fleshing out. Some of them blended together, and I found it a bit odd how easily John removed himself from his past life. He seemed to not care about anything except his wife. (His son was mentioned only once, and he apparently didn't have any friends on Earth.)
So, a middling three stars it is.
I lost interest considerably once the battles actually started. (I know, war is in the title, and I usually wouldn't have picked this up, but it was a recommendation.) I ended up skimming some parts that were just pages and pages of strategy and fighting play-by-play. If Scalzi was intending to riff on Heinlein, he definitely succeeded in that, with the battles and the ingenue main character.
Overall, the characters ultimately could have used more fleshing out. Some of them blended together, and I found it a bit odd how easily John removed himself from his past life. He seemed to not care about anything except his wife. (His son was mentioned only once, and he apparently didn't have any friends on Earth.)
So, a middling three stars it is.
thejestess's review
4.0
I love a book this easy to read, and while there are a lot of named characters who die (and sometimes we're in their pov when they do!) I didn't mind it the way I usually do? I can't tell if that was a product of the narrative voice or just how I'm feeling right now tho
embee007's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
"Welcome to the fucking universe! The universe is a fucked-up place, my friends."
I really enjoyed this. It was a fun read (should have been quick, but it was a rough month for me).
"The universe is a big place. Maybe we’re not in the best neighborhood."
I loved the prose & the characters.
“If I don’t come back, avenge my death.” “I’ll do as best as I can under the circumstances,” I said.
It does use a trope I hate though, which is kind of implied, but the characters even wonder how they'll manage it. Minor spoilers:erasing/fixing disabilities.
Do not mourn me, friends
I fall as a shooting star
Into the next life.
I really enjoyed this. It was a fun read (should have been quick, but it was a rough month for me).
"The universe is a big place. Maybe we’re not in the best neighborhood."
I loved the prose & the characters.
“If I don’t come back, avenge my death.” “I’ll do as best as I can under the circumstances,” I said.
It does use a trope I hate though, which is kind of implied, but the characters even wonder how they'll manage it. Minor spoilers:
Do not mourn me, friends
I fall as a shooting star
Into the next life.
adonalssium's review against another edition
4.0
Que libro más entretenido. El ritmo es muy rápido, pero eso mismo le da una vertiginosidad a las cosas , donde es bastante difícil adivinar para donde va el final.
Buen personaje principal, TREMENDO concepto que hay por detrás y muy entretenida trama.
Las batallas también muy buenas y con un uso de jerga se ciencia ficción no tan pesado. En resumen, me encantó, solo le faltó que fuera un poco más largo para relatar más detalles de alguna cosas que pasaron muy rápido, pero es un detalle.
Buen personaje principal, TREMENDO concepto que hay por detrás y muy entretenida trama.
Las batallas también muy buenas y con un uso de jerga se ciencia ficción no tan pesado. En resumen, me encantó, solo le faltó que fuera un poco más largo para relatar más detalles de alguna cosas que pasaron muy rápido, pero es un detalle.
jambosio95's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
roseyrobertson's review against another edition
1.0
Had such high hopes for this book! I bought the first three in the series, positive that I'd love them. Was sorely disappointed.
I found the narration very tedious and the sense of humour painfully stupid. For example, naming this inner-voice computer helper thing "Asshole" and then the computer says, "That's a very common name!" and I'm reading this thinking, "ugh, we get it, you're an old-man luddite that cheekily names his computer some stupid douchy name." And then later it's revealed someone else names theirs "Bitch" and SIGH, no one cares, it isn't funny ...it's the kind of thing a teenager would do, not a mature adult.
I guess this would be fine if it was intermittent but the whole book is nothing but these eye-rolling jokes and it gets old very quickly.
As a result, I didn't really like any of the characters, nor did I find them to have any sort of depth. I certainly couldn't connect with any of them or have any interest in what was going on with them.
It's too bad, because the premise seemed great! But the execution was sorely lacking, IMO.
I found the narration very tedious and the sense of humour painfully stupid. For example, naming this inner-voice computer helper thing "Asshole" and then the computer says, "That's a very common name!" and I'm reading this thinking, "ugh, we get it, you're an old-man luddite that cheekily names his computer some stupid douchy name." And then later it's revealed someone else names theirs "Bitch" and SIGH, no one cares, it isn't funny ...it's the kind of thing a teenager would do, not a mature adult.
I guess this would be fine if it was intermittent but the whole book is nothing but these eye-rolling jokes and it gets old very quickly.
As a result, I didn't really like any of the characters, nor did I find them to have any sort of depth. I certainly couldn't connect with any of them or have any interest in what was going on with them.
It's too bad, because the premise seemed great! But the execution was sorely lacking, IMO.
kareds's review against another edition
An odd book that simultaneously feels critical of familiar science fiction tropes while also exploiting them for its own drama. My impression was that the book is somewhat confused in what it wants to be. I do think the Consu are hilarious, though.
davechua's review against another edition
3.0
Writing isn't anything to shout about, and the setup takes a while. Otherwise, an above-average military SF novel. Doesn't come close to matching Haldeman's The Forever War.
rabolimpo's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
There are words in this book. This is the review.